Linking Habitat Science and Policy: Habitat Issues in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern

1. Linking Habitat Science and Policy: Habitat Issues in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern By John E. Gannon Great Lakes Regional Office International Joint Commision Windsor, Ontario Presented at Nearshore Fisheries Habitat Workshop Muskegon, Michigan April 1-2, 2003

3. HABITAT Definition: The physical, chemical and biological factors that integrate to support a particular species Aquatic Habitat Challenges: • Changes with life history stage, seasons, etc. • 3-Dimensional aspect • Structural vs. functional approaches to classification

4. WATERSHED, NEARSHORE, AND OFFSHORE LINKAGES

5. History of Binational Resource Management Policy Response • 1972- Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA): Focus on Eutrophication of Phosphorus Control • 1978- GLWQA: emphasis on Toxic Substance • Class A (Severely Polluted) • Class B (Moderately Polluted) • 1987- GLWQA Revision by Protocol • 42 Areas of Concern • The “How Clean is Clean?” Debate • Evolution of Listing/Delisting Criteria • Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) • 2002 Recognition of “Area of Recovery”

6. 14 Beneficial Use Impairments • Restriction on drinking water consumption, or taste and odor problems • Beach Closings • Degradation of aesthetics • Added cost to agriculture or industry • Restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption • Tainting of fish and wildlife flavor • Restrictions on dredging

7. 14 Beneficial Uses (continued) • Eutrophication or undesirable algae • Degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations • Degradation of benthos • Degradation of fish and wildlife populations • Bird or animal deformities or reproduction problems • Fish tumors or other deformities • Loss of fish and wildlife habitat

8. Location of the AOCs

9. AREAS OF CONCERN • Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat • Listing Criteria • When fish and wildlife personnel have identified loss of fish and wildlife habitat due to water quality contamination as part of fish and wildlife management program. • Delisting Criteria • Once the amount and quality of physical, chemical and biological habitat has been achieved (consistent with fish and wildlife management goals), the use would no longer be impaired.

10. AOC Habitat Challenges • Fish and wildlife problems specific to AOCs often poorly defined • Fish and wildlife restoration goals in AOCs often not established • Role of habitat in achieving restoration goals poorly known

11. AOC Aquatic HabitatRestoration Opportunities Soft Sediments • Reduce sediment loading from upstream sources • Dredge only when and where necessary • Eliminate active sources of contamination • Remediate contaminated sediment “hot spots”

12. Habitat Opportunities(Continued) Hard Substrates • Adapt, where feasible, techniques from small stream restoration projects • Adopt soft engineering techniques • Learn from artificial reef projects • Learn from mesocosms and synthetic ecology

13. AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION STRATEGY Scientific and Resource Management Needs • Classification and Inventory • Monitor Status and Trends • Understand Structure and Function • Develop Management Tools • Protection • Rehabilitation • Creation

14. THE BIG QUESTIONS! • Is Habitat Limiting? • How Much Habitat is Enough?

15. BURBOT “SUNBATHING”